Data Sources & Live Index Fallback
Trade Dialer uses a smart hybrid data system to provide the most relevant market data, even when US markets are closed.
How Our Data Works
Primary Source: ETF Proxies via Twelve Data & Alpha Vantage
Market data is powered by Twelve Data and Alpha Vantage APIs through a backend proxy that handles caching, rate limiting, and symbol deduplication. We use three types of proxies:
| Proxy Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ETF_TRACKER | Direct ETF that tracks the index | SPY tracks S&P 500, DIA tracks Dow Jones |
| MSCI_PROXY | iShares MSCI country ETF | EWJ (MSCI Japan) proxies for Nikkei 225 |
| REGIONAL_PROXY | Regional/sector ETF | FXI (China Large-Cap) proxies for SSE Composite |
All proxies are US-listed ETFs that trade during US market hours (09:30–16:00 ET).
Proxy Quality Tiers
Each proxy is rated by how closely it tracks the actual index:
| Tier | Quality | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | Direct ETF tracker or highly correlated MSCI proxy |
| B | Good | Country-level MSCI ETF, good correlation |
| C | Approximate | Regional proxy, broader correlation |
The Challenge
When the US market is closed but a foreign market is open, the ETF data becomes stale. For instance, if you check the Nikkei 225 at 10 PM ET, Tokyo's market is in full swing, but the US-listed EWJ ETF hasn't moved since 4 PM ET.
The Solution: Yahoo Finance Fallback
Trade Dialer automatically switches to live index data from Yahoo Finance when:
- The US market is closed
- The foreign market is open
- Yahoo Finance data is available for that index
Visual Indicators
Trade Dialer clearly shows where your data is coming from:
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Live (green pulse) | Real-time ETF data during US market hours |
| 🔵 Index Live (blue pulse) | Live index data from Yahoo Finance fallback |
| ⚪ At close (gray) | Last session's closing price |
| 🇺🇸 Closed (gray badge) | US market closed, showing last ETF price |
Complete Symbol Reference
Below is the complete list of all indices tracked by Trade Dialer, including their proxy symbols, data quality tiers, and fallback sources.
Americas
| Index | Proxy Symbol | Tier | Type | Currency | Fallback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | SPY | A | ETF_TRACKER | USD | ^GSPC |
| Dow Jones | DIA | A | ETF_TRACKER | USD | ^DJI |
| NASDAQ-100 | QQQ | A | ETF_TRACKER | USD | ^NDX |
| S&P/TSX Composite | EWC | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^GSPTSE |
| S&P/TSX 60 | EWC | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^GSPTSE |
| IPC (Mexico) | EWW | B | REGIONAL_PROXY | USD | ^MXX |
| Bovespa | EWZ | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^BVSP |
Europe
| Index | Proxy Symbol | Tier | Type | Currency | Fallback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE 100 | EWU | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^FTSE |
| FTSE 250 | EWU | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^FTMC |
| DAX | EWG | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^GDAXI |
| MDAX | EWG | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^MDAXI |
| CAC 40 | EWQ | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^FCHI |
| AEX | EWN | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^AEX |
| FTSE MIB | EWI | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | FTSEMIB.MI |
| IBEX 35 | EWP | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^IBEX |
| SMI | EWL | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^SSMI |
| SMIM | EWL | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | — |
| BIST 100 | TUR | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | XU100.IS |
Asia-Pacific
| Index | Proxy Symbol | Tier | Type | Currency | Fallback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | EWJ | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^N225 |
| TOPIX | EWJ | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | — |
| Hang Seng | EWH | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^HSI |
| HSCEI | EWH | C | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^HSCE |
| SSE Composite | FXI | C | REGIONAL_PROXY | USD | 000001.SS |
| SZSE Component | ASHR | C | REGIONAL_PROXY | USD | 399001.SZ |
| KOSPI | EWY | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^KS11 |
| KOSDAQ | EWY | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^KQ11 |
| TAIEX | EWT | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^TWII |
| STI (Singapore) | EWS | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^STI |
| ASX 200 | EWA | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^AXJO |
| NIFTY 50 | INDA | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^NSEI |
| SENSEX | INDA | A | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^NSEI |
| TASI (Saudi Arabia) | KSA | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^TASI.SR |
Africa
| Index | Proxy Symbol | Tier | Type | Currency | Fallback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JSE All Share | EZA | B | MSCI_PROXY | USD | ^J203.JO |
What You See With Fallback Data
When viewing fallback data, you'll notice:
- Local currency values — JPY for Nikkei, HKD for Hang Seng, etc.
- Index points — Actual index level, not ETF price
- Blue "Index Live" indicator — Shows data is from the local market
- Yahoo Finance link — Click to verify the source
Indices Without Fallback
Some indices don't have reliable Yahoo Finance data (marked with "—" in the tables above):
- TOPIX — No Yahoo Finance feed available
- SMIM — No Yahoo Finance feed available
For these indices, when the US market is closed, you'll see the 🇺🇸 Closed badge indicating the data is from the last US trading session.
Benefits of This System
- Real-time local data — See what's actually happening in foreign markets
- Local currency — View values in JPY, HKD, KRW instead of USD
- Transparent sourcing — Always know where your data comes from
- Graceful fallback — Works seamlessly without any action needed
Data Freshness
| Data Type | Update Frequency |
|---|---|
| Open markets (active + closes-soon) | Every 10 seconds |
| Markets opening soon | Every 10 seconds |
| Closed markets | Every 5 minutes |
| Market open/close countdowns | Every second |
When Markets Are Closed
When a market is closed, the values shown are the last regular session closing price. Extended hours data (pre-market and after-hours trading) is not included.
Minor post-close corrections (e.g., settlement adjustments) may occasionally update slightly during the 5-minute refresh cycle for closed markets.
Note: Yahoo Finance data is used as a fallback source. While generally reliable, occasional discrepancies may occur. For official index values, always verify with the exchange directly.
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